a f t e r
A boy sits on a bus. His head is shaved, but it appears that he was blonde before, due to the tiny hairs that are popping out of his head. His face is contorted into a melancholy expression, filled with regret.
An older man, no less than forty, stares at him with a quiet curiosity. "Are you a marine?" He asks the boy.
The boys head snaps around, his wide blue eyes looking at the man in surprise. He doesn't respond.
"I see you sporting your badge and uniform," the man continues, "semper fi, right?"
the boy gulps, as if the phrase has triggered some painful memory.
"Vietnam?" the man pushes again.
the young solider nods, "Yes sir."
The man chuckles fondly, "I was an army man myself, China. Is this your first trip to San Francisco?"
The boy turns to look out the window, "I've been there before, back in 63." The trip is recent, and his heart thumps wildly in his chest.
The man begins to make friendly conversation, he mentions that he loves the city, but hates the long bus ride. The solider is listening, but his mind is truly somewhere else.
"Were you a sergeant?" The man asks.
"Staff."
"Good for you," The man continues, talking about his own rank. His eyes land on the boys tattoo. "Hey, that's quite the tattoo you got. Are those letters?"
The young marine nods, looking down at the A, C, and L on his forearm.
"What do they mean? They don't spell anything."
He he looks back out the window, "No, sir."
The man doesn't notice the ever present sadness written on the boys face. "I've got one that dances. This is no place to be showing my stomach, but you could see her moves." He jokes, laughing.
The boy doesn't laugh. The man frowns.
"So what are the letters supposed to mean?"
"They don't mean nothing sir." He pauses, "Something we did, my buddies and me." He points at the A, "There's Ashton."
Ashton, with his goofy grin and ever present optimism.
His fingers run over the C "That's for Calum."
Calum, with his snarky remarks and constant nagging.
"Then there's me, Luke." He yanks his sleeve down, concealing the tattoo.
"Well then," The man chuckles, "I bet your letters can't dance the hula!" He sighed, "She's bigger than she used to be, that's for sure."
The boy, Luke, closes his eyes and it all comes back.
YOU ARE READING
dogfight/muke
Fanfiction"you know the rules?" "the marine with the ugliest date wins the pot of money, right?" "you got the fifty bucks?" "sure do." - 'cause people can surprise you...or not. 1960's AU transgender! mikey army! luke based off the movie, dogfight.
